Back-filling blade for a power shovel



July 10, 1962 N. DlscENzA BACK-FILLING BLADE FOR A POWER SHOVEL 2Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed June 30, 1960 July 10, 1962 N. DlscENzABACK-FILLING BLADE FOR A POWER SHOVEL 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed June 30,1960 JNVENTOR /VEL 50N /SCENZA B Y y ATTORNEY.

United States Patent O 3,943,032' BACK-FILLELG BLADE FR A PWER SHVELNelson Discenza, 9i) Lancaster Road, West Hartford, Conn. Fiied June3i), 1969, Ser. No. 40,901 6 flaims. (Cl. 257-1175) This inventionrelates to earth moving equipment and more particularly to back-fillingblade attachments for the bucket of la power shovel for extending itsrange of effective operation to backiilling and -grading work.

The art of earth moving has undergone revolutionary changes withinrecent years. Innovations and improvements in equipment and techniquehave taken place which heretofore were undreamed of. Huge,self-propelled vehicles are now available lwhich are capable oftransporting tous of earth easily, quickly and conveniently over terrainwhich would formerly have been impassable. Great giants of machinery cannow level or move whole hills with relative ease. Earth moving equipmentis available today which can accomplish in a single day what formerlyrequired weeks or even months of arduous hand labor.

My invention, however, relates to a category of earth working apparatusand technique which has remained relatively unchanged while such greatforward strides were being accomplished in development of heavyequipment and its use. Considered individually, the magnitude of smallexcavation projects such as trench digging or residential excavatingdoes not compare with that of highway installation or industrialdevelopment. Collectively, however, many thousands of man hours of handlabor are required -to dig `and lill small excavationslabor which mightotherwise be put to use in a far greater product-ive capacity. Theinstallation of water or sewer pipes, for example, extending between atypical urban residence and a street main, necessitates digging a trenchtherebetween approximately four to eight feet -in depth. Small, mobilepower shovels designed for work of this general type eiciently 'disposeof the necessary excavation, depositing the dirt removed therefrom on-the surface adjacent to the trench. Once the trench is dug, however,andthe pipe laid, hours of laborious hand work must be spent `by menwith shovels Aback-illing the trench, and an even greater number ofhours spent shoveling and raking in an effort to clean up and return thearea of excavation to its former condition.

By using my improved back-filling blade attachment, however, the samepower-shovel used to dig the trench may be speedily converted for use toeiiiciently, Vquickly and economically return the excavated dirt to thetrench from -whence it was removed. By simply attaching my back-tilling-blade to the bucket of the power shovel, the shovel may be fused eitherto push or pull the mounds of dirt previously deposited along the edgeof the trench into the excavation. Since my back-filling blade shieldsthe digging teeth of the bucket, there is no danger of their gouging orscarring an establishedlawn as the edge of the blade is drawn along thesurface thereof.

Earth moving equipment of the bulldozer type is frequently employed inan eirort to minimize the hand work associated with back-filling.Eiective use of such equipment, however, is restricted because of therelatively large amount of operating area required therefor, and isprohibited in areas having established lawns and landscaping unlessthere is no concern for probable damage thereto. At best, theconventional bulldozer can accomplish only rough grading leaving a'substantial amount of iinish work to be accomplished by hand labor. Theuse of a bulldozerl also involves bringing another piece of heavy'equipment to the job site which notl only compounds" schedulingproblems but is also an additional expense.

The use of my improved back-lling blade attachment,

however, permits a power shovel operatorV of ordinary skill to perform,in addition lto the excavating operation, both the back-filling of thebulldozer and the cleanup finish grading heretofore of necessity done byhand labor using` picks, shovels and rakes. A trench or the like may berapidly and inexpensively back-iilled, and rough and iinish `grading maybe accomplished with the same equipment and with the economy andeiflciency of modern mechanization-'utilizing only one piece ofequipment for excavating, back-lling and grading.

A primary object of the Iinvention is to provide an attachment for powershovels yand the like which will extend their iield of effectiveoperation and permit their use for back-filling and grading.

A further object of the invention is the provision of such an attachmenthaving means cooperable with the teeth on the ybucket for positioningthe attachment there- A still further object of the invention is toprovide an attachment which will, in one form, utilize the capacity ofthe bucket to permit the movement of large quantities of earth or likematerials.

Another object of my invention is to provide an attachment that can beconveniently and securely aixed to the bucket of a powerl shovel andwhich will greatly increase the utility thereof.

Still another object is to provide an improved attach-k ment for a powershovel, Ithe use of which will virtually eliminate the expense of costlyhand labor in back-filling trenches and like excavations. Y

A still further Objectis -to provide such an attachment which may bedetachably secured to the bucket of a power shovel.

Another object is to provide such an attachment cooperable with theteeth on the bucket whereby said teeth may'be sheathed to preventscarring or gouging of established lawns. q i

Further objects and advantages of this invention will be more clearlyunderstood from the lfollowing description and accompanying drawings inwhich:

FIG. l is an elevational side view showing the bucket of a conventionalpower shovel having a preferred form of my improved attachment mountedthereon.

'.FIG. 2 is an isometric View of said attachment;

IFIG. 3 is a sectional side view taken on line 3--3 of FIG. 2.

FIG. 4 is a similar view taken on line -4-4 of `FIG. 2.

IFIG. 5 is an elevational side view showing a modified form of myattachment mounted upon the bucket 0f a conventional power shovel.

FIG. r6 is an isometric'front View of said modified form.

of said attachment. p

FIG. 7 is a sectional side View taken onl line7-7 of FIG. 6.

As shown in the drawings, the numeral 5 denotes the bucket of aconventionalpower shovel. Said bucket is pivotally mounted on'a boom 6and is operated by a control bar 7 in the well-known manner.v The bucketis provided with a series of spaced teeth 8 which project from the loweredge thereof and are adapted to bite into the earth when said bucket isused for diggingoperations. u

In its preferred form, illustrated in FIGS. l to 4, my improvedattachment7 indicated generally at 9, comprises a front plate 10 havinga width greater than that of the bucket 5 and also having spaced sideportions 11- 11 extending upwardly from its opposite ends. SaidV sideportions are provided with opposed, rearwardly extending flanges 12-'12on the inner edges thereof disposed perpendicularly thereto and arespaced to embrace the opposite sides of said bucket fwhereby they rmaybe detachably secured thereagainst. f

An elongated rear plate 13 is secured along its lower edge to the loweredge Vof said front plate and is inclined rearwardly therefrom toYprovide a pocket 14 therebetween adapted to receive the teeth S-S forpositioning 'and securing the attachment on the bucket as shown in FIGS.1 and`2. The said pocket 14 formed thereby is of-such size and shape asto receive the teeth 8-8 wherebythe undersurface of said teeth restsin'abutting contact with the inner surface of said rear plate whilethepointsthereof rest against the yrear surface of the ront plate 10 incooperate engagement therewith to prevent movement of said attachmentwhen force is exerte against said front plate.l

Y The pocket 14 not only aids in positioning and securing the attachmentbut also serves to shield or sheath the said teeth in order to preventscarring orgouging thereby during operation of the power shovel. Thesaid attachment is Ysecured to the bucket by means of suitable bolts15a-15 which extend through: holes 16-16 in the ilanges 12--12 andthrough aligned holes in the sides of the bucket. If desired, theportions of the pocket outwardly of the bucket may be closed by suitableplates 17-.17V which also serve to support `the plate 13.

When it is desired to convert the power shovel for use inback-filling,it isV a 'simple matter to attach my irnproved back-iilling bladethereto by seating the teeth of the bucket into the pocket 14 designedtherefor. The flanges 12-12n1ay then be secured to their respectivesides of the bucket by the said bolts 15-15.

, In the modified form illustrated in FIGS. 5 to 7, the said attachmentcomprises a plate 18 having a forwardly inclined lower portion 19. Thetwo side and -upper edges of said plate 18` are provided'wit-h forwardlyextending flanges A2,0--20 and 21 respectivelyto coniine, insofar aspossible, the lill or earth to said plateand thereby increase thecapacityV thereof. If desired, the llanges ,20--3 20may Ibe extendedalong the edgesn ofthe portion 19, as at 20a-LY The said vllangesfurther tend to increasegthe strength and rigidity of the device.

The said lower portion 19-of the plate 18 is inclined forwardly andis-provided on the rear side thereof with a supporting bar 22 rigidlysecured thereto.' Said bar extends longitudinally of the plate and ispositioned so as to rest inthe angle 23 formed bythe front surface Vofthe teeth 8a and the side of the bucket 5a as shown in FIG. 5 whenthevmodiiied form of my invention is positioned on said bucket. rIheangle formed by the front plate and the lower portion thereof is suchthat the rear surface of the plate 18 rests in abutting engagement witheachA of the kiront-edges ofthe sides of the Abucket while 'the lower ormarginal edge 24 of thek lower portion 19 thereof rests upon the uppersurface of said teeth -andextends Yslightly forward thereof. v f

The-said plate 18'is `providedqwith rearwardly extending flanges 25-25adapted to receive'thev bucket 5a therebetween and to rbe securedto saidbucket Vby meansV of v 4 type having opposed sides, an open front, and aplurality of laterally spaced digging teeth along the forward lower edgethereof, a back-filling attachment comprising a blade -having a frontplate, said plate being wider than said shovel whereby -said plateextends outwardly of the opposed sides thereof, said plate having an`opening therein of substantially the same width as said shovel, theside edges of said opening abutting said opposed sides whereby the saidplate and [said shovel together form a continuous dirt-engaging surface,means lat the lower end of said plate engaging, loverlying and shieldingall of said teeth to prevent scarring of the ground when said shovel isconverted to back-filling purposes, and means on said frontplate'securing said attachment to the said opposed sides of the bucket.

2. In combination with an excavating shovel of the type having opposedsides, an open front, and a plurality of laterally spaced digging teethalong the forward lower edge thereof, a back-filling attachmentcomprising a blade including a -rear plate and a front plate extendingoutwardly of said opposed sides of said bucket, said rear plate beinginclined rearwardly relative to said front plate and secured theretoalong its lower edge toofonn a locating pocket therebetweenreceiving thesaid teeth for positioning the said attachmenton the said bucket withits longitudinal axis substantially parallel to the ground and forsheathing the said teeth to prevent scarring when the said shovel isconverted to back-lling purposes, said -front plate having upwardlyVextending spaced side portions forming an opening in said front plate,said opening receiving the said bucket therein'when the said teeth arepositioned in the said locating pocket, vthe said side portions.abutting the outer faces of the said opposed sides whereby the saidopen front of said bucket is unobstructed by the said blade, and meansVon said side portions securing said attachment to the said opposedsides of the bucket. Y n

3. In combination with an excavating shovel -of the type havingopposedsides, an open front, and a plurality, of laterally. spaceddigging teeth along thefforward lower edge thereof, a back-llingattachment comprising a blade including Va rear plate and a front plateextending out- .Wardly of said opposed sides of said bucket, said rearyAplate being inclined rearwardly relative to said front plate andsecured thereto along its lower edge to form a locating pockettherebetween receiving the saidr teeth for positioning the saidattachment on the said bucket with its longitudinal axis substantiallyparallel to the ground and for sheathing the said teeth to preventscarring when the said shovel-is converted to back-filling purposes,transverse web portions connecting the portions of said rear plate andsaid -front'plateextending beyond said opposed sides, rearwardlyextendingilariges-v on said front plate in suitable bolts 26 whichextend through holes 25a'-25a in the anges 25o-25 andthroughalignedholes inthe sides of saidbucket. Y. o n .y

A guard plate 2,7` may be provided to' extend upwardly from the plate 18and across the upper portion of the bucket 5ar whereby to prevent andspilling of Vearth into the bucket during the back-filling operation.The weight of earth is well known and if the' bucket were to becomeiilled,'the productive eciency of the power shovel would beV greatlyreduced since much of its usable horsepower abutment -with they opposedsides of said shovel, said flanges beingl attached at their lower endsto said transverse web portions and means detachably securing saidflanges to said opposed sides whereby said blade is dei tachably securedto said bucket.

' of laterally spaced digging. teethV projecting forwardly from thelower edge of said mouth, a back-'filling attachwould be wasted `inmerely carrying about the dead weight .Qf a bucket aut-.d with-earth. Y

' llVhen;mountingl the modified form of my attachment toV the `bucketjofa'conventional power shovel it is simply positioned thereonwith the bar22 restingin the angle .23

andremovablysecured thereon by the bolts 26526 as aforementioned.Iclairry Y z 1 Y f 1. In combination with an excavating shovel of Vthement comprising a blade including a lplate that is` wider in ahorizontal direction than said bucket land extends laterally outwardlyof said opposed sides thereof, said plate having an opening locatedsubstantiallyV centrally thereof and receiving said bucket,y saidopening having spaced vertical side edges disposed `in close proximityto the outer surface ofthe said vertical sides of said rbucket and ahorizontal lower edgeladjacent to the lower portion of said mouthwhereby said bucket 'may receive dirt through said mouth during use ofsaid blade V toaugrnent the capacity thereof, saidY plate having aportion below the lower edge ofsaid opening overlying and shielding saidteeth and means on said plate detachably securing said plate to saidbucket.

5. In combination with `an excavating bucket of the type having opposedsides, an open front and a plurality of laterally spaced digging teethalong the lower, forward edge thereof, a back-lling attachmentcomprising a blade including -an elongated plate of generallyrectangular form attached to said bucket in a substantially uprightposition and having side portions thereof extending outwardly of saidopposed sides of said bucket, said blade having its longitudinal axissubstantially parallel with the ground, means on the rear surface ofsaid blade engageable with and receiving at least one of said pluralityof laterally spaced digging teeth for positioning and securing the loweredge portion of said attachment on said bucket whereby the said teethmay be shielded to prevent scarring when the said shovel is used forback-filling purposes, said outwardly and upwardly extending sideportions forming an opening in said blade of substantially the samewidth as said shovel whereby the said plate and said excavating buckettogether form a continuous dirt engaging and dirt carrying surface, `andconnecting means on said side portions detachably securing said blade inposition on said bucket.

6. The attachment defined in claim 5 wherein the said attaching meansincludes a pair of rearwardly extending spaced flanges on the rearsurface of said blade positioned inwardly of the inner edges of saidoutwardly and upwardly extending side portions, and abutment surfaces onsaid anges for abutting engagement with the outside surface of saidopposed sides to detachably secure the said side portions in abutmentwith said opposed sides of said bucket.

References Cited in the tile of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS947,964 Collins Feb. 1, 1910 1,023,849 Huish Apr. 23, 1912 1,762,946Atkinson June 10, 1930 1,765,892 Wagner June 24, 1930 1,923,412 BaconAug. 22, 1933 2,488,695 Upton Nov. 22, 1949 2,555,752 Merola June 5,1951 2,644,251 Smith July 7, 1953 2,652,640 Schield Sept. 22, 19532,783,558 Morgan Mar. 5, 1957 FOREIGN PATENTS 552,003 Italy Mar. 3l,1955

